Free Repeating History (History #1) by Hanleigh Bradley Page A

accounts until Landon returns. Ashley will bring you up to speed.”
    I glance at his face, trying to read his expression but it’s impossible. I’ve never been able to understand him. I don’t know why I keep trying.
     
    Forty five minutes later when the meeting has finally finished, I rush towards the door before he can call me back. I worry that he’ll catch up with me but fate seems to be on my side because the other directors pounce on him before he can leave. I breathe out a sigh of relief when the lift doors close behind me, leaving me alone in the lift. I can’t stand still. I start pacing and muttering to myself. Who the hell does he think he is to kiss me? Why does he have to make this so complicated? Maya is waiting for me just outside the lift with my favourite mug, “I got you a green tea.”
    “Thank you,” I reply without looking at her. I can’t. She’ll see that I’m upset and the sight of her might just make it worse. She looks just like her brother. “Get Ashley, your brother’s assistant to come into my office.”
    “Yes Clara,” Maya nods before walking away. If she notices that I sound abrupt she completely ignores it as she does what I ask and I sigh gratefully.
     
    Finally in the quiet solace of my office, I take a deep breath and feel my heart beat slow. I sip my tea and smile. You just have to be firmer with him. Avoid him if you must. You have to tell him he can’t kiss you again. I mentally chastise myself for allowing the kiss to happen in the first place. My peaceful solace is stolen away when Andrew barges into my office. He’s picked up an apple from somewhere and is biting into it. “Ever heard of knocking,” my voice is higher than I want it to be. It’s almost shrill.
    He doesn’t respond. He just smirks at me, clearly happy with himself, before lounging in the seat opposite me. “What do you want?” I ask attempting a tone of indifference. The rise of his right eyebrow tells me I didn’t achieve it. He doesn’t say anything though. He just sits there looking cocky, the smug bastard.
    “If it’s not work related I’m busy,” I tell him without so much as a glance in his direction. I try to look busy; checking my emails, pretending to type out a reply when really I’m watching my fingers shake as I type random letters onto the screen.
    “I” he stalls and for a moment I think he might apologise but he doesn’t. Of course he doesn’t. He’s far too pleased with himself to apologise. He probably doesn’t even think he did anything wrong, “I think you owe me a kiss.”
    His words do something to me. They make my stomach flip and my lips tingle as a reminder of what a kiss from Andrew Contius would be like. But his words also anger me and confuse me. “That isn’t going to happen.” I aim to sound resolute. The words come out more like a question.
    He smirks, “I disagree.”
    “You disagree?” I’m astounded by his response. It shouldn’t be up for debate. He can’t force kisses on me. I’m not his... I’m not a toy he can use and abuse, for fucks sake. My mind is all over the place.
    “Yes.”
    “Why do you disagree?”
    “Because I know you want to kiss me.” His words are clear and certain. He’s completely confident that I want him.
    “That’s not true,” I try to deny. I glance up at his face and I hope that he can’t hear the uncertainty in my tone or see the blush that is on my cheeks.
    “Oh but it is, Clara,” he stands to his feet and steps around my desk so that he is stood right in front of me. This time without a desk or anything else in between us to keep him at a distance, my heart feels like it doesn’t fit in my chest as I wait for him to make a move. “I can tell.”
    “You can tell?” I whisper. I want to tell him to leave; to get the hell out of my office but I can’t. The words just won’t come and my mind is scrambled.
    He nods, “I can see it on your rosy cheeks,” he runs his palm across my cheek and I